Wallaby Milk a Super Bug Killer

Wallaby milk a super bug killer reports The Australian Senior June 2006, p.17. "The humble Australian wallaby might hold the key to defeating the world's deadliest super bugs. Researchers for the Victorian Department of Primary Industries made the discovery while analysing the ingredients of the marsupial milk. They started their research to find out how wallaby joeys - born without a proper immune system - survived until they developed antibodies at 100 days old. By chance they identified a super potent compound in wallaby milk. It turned out to be more than 100 times more effective than penicillin in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria - including golden staph.

Research boss Ben Cocks said the discovery could have a profound impact on both animal and human health. "We made our first observation a bit over a year ago," he said. "Since then we've got much more information about it - about how it's made, and how potent it is. From a biological, evolutionary perspective, it's very interesting because there's no equivalent in humans or in cows. It seems as if the placental mammals lost the gene for this anti-microbial" Mr Cox said the antibiotic compound was relatively easy to synthesise. The next step was to examine if it could be used safely in humans. The team has approached biotechnology companies for help to develop the product."

Editorial Comment: When you state that "It seems as if the placental mammals lost the gene for this anti-microbial", then you are really admitting that this is another example of evolution which is actually devolution - change by loss, particularly when you add the unstated info that there is not the slightest evidence that placental mammals evolved from marsupials (Ref. Australia, kangaroos, monotremes.)